Water rocket fin attachment system

ABSTRACT

A plastic sheet that can be formed into a cylinder or truncated cone and attached to a pressure vessel by use of integral self-adhesive tabs. The cylinder or truncated cone is then used as an extension and structure for the attachment of rocket fins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE EFS-WEB

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In many water rocket systems the body of the rocket requires a plasticcarbonated drink bottle that uses the addition of a nose cone and finsto achieve stable rocket flight. Many of the existing methods used tobuild water rockets are impractical, heavy, unreliable, time consuming,and ineffective. This fin attachment system is unique, practical, lightweight, reliable, and effective.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, a flat plastic sheet, of the appropriate dimensions,is used as an extension attached to a plastic carbonated drink bottle.This extension functions as an attachment point for application of finson a plastic drink bottle. The flat plastic sheet is formed into acylinder using high strength double sided adhesive tape on anoverlapping seam. The cylinder is attached to a plastic drink bottleusing tabs that are an integral part of the plastic sheet. High-strengthdouble-sided adhesive tape strips are strategically applied to the tabsto allow the tabs to be bent away from the bottle for removal of thepaper backing from the adhesive and adhered to the bottle. Once appliedto the plastic drink bottle the cylinder provides an attachment pointfor the application of stabilizing fins. The cylinder positions the finslower on the bottle than can be achieved without the cylinder,increasing their aerodynamic effectivity. The fin attachment system isresilient with minimal aerodynamic drag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the included figures the fin attachment system is shown as a flatsheet, formed into a cylinder, attached to a plastic bottle, and withfins and nose attached in a rocket configuration.

FIG. 1 is a flat sheet view of one embodiment of a fin attachmentsystem.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a fin attachment systemformed Into a cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a view of one embodiment of a fin attachment system attachedto a plastic drink bottle

FIG. 4 is a view of one embodiment of the fin attachment system withfins and nose attached to a plastic bottle in a rocket configuration.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a rocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the fin attachment system (100). The finattachment system consists of a transparent plastic sheet (1) includingan adhesive strip (2) and multiple tabs (3) with adhesive (4). A waterfill line (5) is pre-printed at the location shown. The width (6) issized to match the circumference of a plastic drink bottle. The overlap(7) containing adhesive strip (2) is used for forming the plastic sheet(1) into a permanent cylinder to fit tightly around a plastic drinkbottle. The fin target box (8) is used to properly align stabilizingfins.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the transparent plastic sheet (1) formedinto a cylinder (200) held together by adhesive strip (2). When placedover a plastic drink bottle the cylinder (200) is attached using tabs(3) and adhesive (4). The water fill line (5) represents the recommendedwater amount for rocket flight. The fin target box (8) provides a targetlocation for proper alignment of fin. Only one fin target box isvisible. Any number of evenly spaced boxes can be preprinted on theplastic sheet (1) as required for stable rocket flight.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the plastic sheet (1) formed into acylinder using an adhesive strip (2) and attached to plastic drinkbottle (8) using tabs (3) and adhesive (4) to make the foundation forthe rocket assembly (300) ready for attachment of a nose cone and fins.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view of a complete rocket (400). The rocket isassembled by attaching a plastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder usingan adhesive strip (2) and secured to a drink bottle (8) using tabs (3)with adhesive (4). Nose cone (9) is attached to the bottom of drinkbottle (8) and fins (10) are attached to the plastic sheet (1) usingadhesive (11).

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a complete rocket (400) showing, theplastic sheet (1) formed into a cylinder and attached to the plasticdrink bottle (8). Fins (10) are attached to the plastic sheet (1) andthe nose (9) is attached to the bottom of the bottle (8) which is nowthe top of the rocket.

1. A plastic water rocket fin attachment system consisting of a flatsheet of the appropriate dimensioned plastic with double sided adhesiveplaced in locations so that the sheet can be formed into a cylinder ortruncated cone and then attached to a carbonated drink bottle usingadhesive backed tabs, to provide an easy functional attachment point forrocket fins to achieve stable rocket flight.
 2. A fin attachment systemof claim 1 can be sized to be used on any appropriate plastic drinkbottle.
 3. A fin attachment system of claim 1 can be used on rocketswith any form of propulsion systems including water, air, solid andliquid fuel systems.
 4. A fin attachment system of claim 1 can usevarious size and shape adhesive tabs to attach to the plastic drinkbottle.